Washoe County Keep It Clean - Know the Code Burn Code ends

Air Quality Management reports “No Bad Days” this season

Reno, Nev. February 28, 2019 – The annual Keep It Clean – Know the Code Burn Code Program, which Washoe County Health District Air Quality Management (AQM) uses to inform area residents whether or not using their woodstoves, pellet stoves, or fireplaces is allowed, ended Thursday, February 28.  According to health officials, no Yellow or Red Burn Code days were declared this season. 

“This is the first time since the beginning of the program that we have had no need to call for Yellow Code recommendations, or Red Code restrictions,” said District Health Officer Kevin Dick. “Our website and social media activity also indicates that the community is engaged in monitoring air quality and our recommendations during the Burn Code season. We want to thank all of our wood-burning and pellet stove users for their vigilance,” Dick said. 

The Burn Code Program, which runs annually from the first day of November through the last day of February in the most woodstove impacted areas of Washoe County, started in 1987, when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency began enforcing stricter regulations for particulate matter. According to Dick the community benefits accomplished through implementation of the Burn Code Program are even more impressive if you consider the unprecedented growth in Washoe County since 1987. 

The Know the Code program will resume on November 1, 2019.  To remain informed of the daily air quality index please subscribe to EnviroFlash at http://ourcleanair.enviroflash.info/.